DCH 82
Defenders Chronicles: Highlander
By AmandaDoE
Chapter Eighty-Two: Forgive Us Our Trespass
Amanda was dancing at the club, enjoying the night, not knowing what to expect. She sensed the Buzz. An immortal was nearby.
She walked over to the bar and saw a man, the immortal she was sensing.
"There is a God," the man declared before he introduced himself, and taking her offered hand, "I'm Steven Keane."
He kissed her hand.
"Amanda," Amanda introduced herself before asking, "You come here often?"
"I may have to start," Keane laughed before he stated, "Actually, I, uh, own the place. Just bought it."
"Really?" Amanda replied as she walked with him across the club, "Well, new decor, better music, less water in the drinks – I think you've made quite an investment here."
"Well, it seems to be paying off."
"Well, you're the flavor of the month, aren't you?" Amanda quipped, "Let's see what kind of staying power you have."
"Oh, I plan to make a lasting impression," Keane declared.
"That's very optimistic of you," Amanda told him before he motioned her to take a seat. She does so as they sit at a table.
"You've lived here long?" Keane asked.
"Oh, a thousand years, on and off," Amanda answered.
"Almost a native," Keane replied, "You must know every immortal in the city."
"Are you looking for anyone in particular?" Amanda inquired.
"Always," Keane answered.
"What's her name?"
"Duncan MacLeod."
"Is he a friend of yours?"
"We have some, uh, unfinished business," Keane stated, "You know him?"
Amanda shook her head, "Doesn't ring a bell, but um, speaking of unfinished business…"
She leaned closer, "Would you like to come to my place?"
Keane smiled at Amanda as he followed her out of the club. They could still hear the music as they were out of the club.
"Did you know this was a convent once?" Amanda asked.
Keane laughed, "Next you're going to tell me you're a nun."
"Tempting," Amanda replied, "but black is my color."
Keane turned away to unlock the car door. Amanda drawn out her sword and she swung at him, and Keane dodged her attack, ducked away, and opened the car door to block her swing. Her next attempt sent her sword through the door's window, shattering the glass.
Keane then drawn his sword and brought it to her neck, "Was it something I said?"
"Duncan MacLeod," Amanda answered.
"Where is he?" Keane demanded, "I don't want to kill you."
"That makes two of us," Amanda replied.
Keane pulled out his cellphone, "Then call MacLeod."
Amanda took the phone from him.
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Duncan walked through the chapel doors and he sensed the buzz after being summoned here to Darius' chapel.
Duncan called out, "Amanda?"
Amanda stepped into view, "Sorry."
A mysterious man stepped into view behind her.
"I didn't have a choice," Amanda continued.
"I asked her to call you," the man spoke up.
"Well, I'm here," Duncan replied.
"Duncan MacLeod. You've haunted me for more than two hundred years," the man spoke up before he introduced himself, "I'm Steven Keane."
"Oh," Duncan blandly replied.
"You really don't remember?" Keane asked, "Then maybe you remember my friend, Richard Dunbar. The Earl of Rosemont."
"Yes," Duncan nodded.
"Do you remember how many men you slaughtered?" Keane asked, "How many lives you destroyed?"
"Yes," Duncan explained, "There were desperate times…...with desperate measures. It was war. I followed Bonnie Prince Charlie, who managed to rally the Scots against the English. Our dream was freedom. For awhile, victory seemed possible, but the dream ended in slaughter and death in Culloden. Charlie was forced to flee, taking our shattered dreams with him. Culloden was terrible, but what happened after was worse. The English weren't content with defeating us. They wanted to wipe us off the face of the earth. Farmers, women, children, they were without mercy. I killed because they killed. I answered death with death."
"And that's all you have to say?" Keane asked.
"There's nothing else to say," Duncan answered.
"Six A.M. The Luxemberg Gardens," Keane told the Highlander, "That gives you time to say your goodbyes."
He walked to leave, then turned back, "If you run, I'll find you."
With that, Keane left the chapel.
"I won't run," Duncan replied quietly.
"Look, I'm really sorry," Amanda apologized as she followed Duncan out of the church, "The guy has a sword to my throat. I didn't know what else to do. I thought, holy ground, they'll talk….."
"You did the right thing," Duncan told her.
"Yeah?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah," Duncan answered, "I like you with all your parts intact."
"Well, you and me both," Amanda affirmed.
"What do you know about Keane?" Duncan asked.
"Nothing," Amanda answered, "I just met him. He seemed like a nice enough guy at the time. Now you're going to have to kill him."
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"What are you saying?" Richie asked, looking at the doctor, "You're saying that's it for her?!"
"What I'm saying is," the doctor answered, "you two did the best you could in keeping Jenny alive for the past year, but there's nothing more you can do."
Tori and Richie looked at each other. They had rushed Jenny to medical attention at the IUA after she had woken up coughing up blood and screaming for her parents. It had been three days since Jenny's health started to decline. At first, they thought it was just the flu and that it would pass, at least that was what Richie thought, clearly in denial, but Tori could tell something wasn't right, and when they had to rush her to the IUA medical wing proved her point, and Richie couldn't deny what was happening any longer.
Then, they looked back at the doctor.
"How much longer?" Tori asked, tears rimming around her eyes.
"Your daughter has only a few days left," the doctor answered, "I'm really sorry."
He bowed his head in sadness before leading the couple to Jenny's room.
"I must advise you," the doctor advised the couple, "Jenny should live her last days as comfortable as possible. Any amount of stress can kill her sooner than expected."
Tori nodded, sniffing, "We'll make note of that."
The doctor opened the door. Tori held her husband's hand as they saw their daughter resting comfortably on the hospital bed. She had the usual hospital equipment on her, and that made things worse. They took a seat next to their dying daughter.
"Mommy, Daddy," Jenny asked with a smile on her face, "What's heaven like?"
"Heaven is a wonderful place, sweetie," Tori answered, trying to hold back her tears, "It's peaceful and beautiful."
"Yeah," Richie added, trying to hold back tears as well, "You'll be able to play for as long as you want, there'll be no more pain or sorrow or any negativity. You'll also meet your grandfather on your mother's side as well as your grandparents on my side, and Auntie Tessa."
Richie took a deep breath, "Tessa would have loved to meet you."
"Was Tessa with Uncle Mac?" Jenny asked.
"For the longest time, yes," Richie answered, "and she'll be waiting for you in heaven."
"I love you, Daddy," Jenny gave a small smile, "I love you, Mommy."
"We love you too, sweetie," Tori smiled through her tears. Richie smiled through his tears as well. They found it hard to believe they were about to lose their beautiful daughter and they were going to be with her in her final moments.
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"Duncan?" Amanda called out as she walked towards the couch, tying her robe closed.
"I couldn't sleep," Duncan replied as he was sitting on the sofa.
Amanda joined him on the couch, trying to comfort Duncan, "Yeah, I noticed. You know what? I've come up with a brilliant idea. Why don't we go somewhere really, really warm. Like…..Tahiti. Yeah? No shoes, no clothes, no, uh, tan lines and no pesky immortals coming out of the woodwork. Oh, well, there was that one guy. What was his name? Grenville?"
"Grenville," Duncan answered, nodding.
"Yeah, but you know what?" Amanda tried comforting him, "He's not gonna be there. It's just going to be you and me, and I'm going to get out that old copy of the Kama Sutra, and it's going to be….."
"Amanda," Duncan cut her off, touching her hand, "Amanda…"
"What?"
"I can't."
"Why not?" Amanda asked.
"Because I have to deal with this," Duncan answered.
Amanda sighed before asking, "What do you mean deal with this?"
"With Keane, this whole bloody mess," Duncan answered, "It should have never happened. I'd seen women and children slaughtered, farms destroyed, villages razed to the ground and for what? All I wanted was revenge. I thought the best way to do that was to kill as many English as possible. It was no answer."
"So what are you saying?" Amanda asked.
"Keane's right about me," Duncan answered as he stood up and walked over to the fireplace, "I am a murderer."
"Duncan, that was two hundred and fifty years ago!" Amanda assured him, "Everyone's dead now – the people he killed, the people you killed and – four generations of their children. It's ancient history. It's just over."
"It's not over," Duncan insisted as he was poking the wood in the fireplace.
"Great," Amanda retorted, "So you're going to let this arrogant little English ass shows up with a two hundred and fifty year old and convince you that you're a bad guy. It was war, Duncan."
"The war was over," Duncan stated.
"Duncan, you're the best man I know," Amanda stressed as she stood up from her seat, and held Duncan in an embrace to give him reassurance, "You make people better, you know, people like me, people who didn't give a damn about anything in their whole lives until you came along with your big brown eyes and your Boy Scout rules. What, are you just going to throw away…"
"No, Amanda," Duncan replied.
"Because you made one damn mistake?!" Amanda continued.
"Amanda," Duncan tried talking to her.
"No," Amanda told him, making her point clear, "If you're going to let Steven Keane kill kill you over this crap, then you are on your own."
She then stormed off, out of the barge.
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Methos woke up, sensing the Buzz. He jumped out of the bed and grabbed his sword.
"Methos, open the door. I know you're there," Amanda called from outside his apartment.
As more knocking on the door was heard, Methos lowered his sword and went to the door.
"Methos!" Amanda called out from the door, "Methos, it's Amanda."
Methos threw the door open, "Do you want to knock a little louder? I don't think they heard you in Philadelphia."
"I'm sorry," Amanda apologized, "It's an emergency, okay?"
"No," Methos retorted, "It was a good way to get your head cut off, is what it was."
"You're turning into an old grouch, aren't you," Amanda asked. She then took in his appearance – bare chest, boxers and sword in hand before she continued, "or did I interrupt something important?"
"Amanda…...it's the middle of the night and I wasn't exactly expecting anyone," Methos told his friend, "Give me a minute. You want some coffee?"
"Yeah," Amanda accepted the offer.
She settled in as Methos got dressed and explained to him what was going on.
"All right, so tell me what you know about this Keane guy," Amanda told Methos right on the mark.
"Nothing," Methos answered, "Never met him."
He handed her a cup of coffee.
"Wait a minute," Amanda stated, "I thought the Watchers knew everything."
Methos walked back to his bed and up onto the mattress, "Well, I'm done with the Watchers."
"Really?" Amanda declared, "I thought you'd find the perfect hiding place."
Methos shook out his covers, "Well, I changed my mind. Sorry, can't help."
He laid down on the bed.
"No, no, listen Methos," Amanda insisted as she walked over to the bed and then sat on it, "Why don't you just – you just talk to MacLeod? You know, try to convince him him that Keane is wrong about him."
Methos sighed before he asked, "You want me to talk to MacLeod…..and tell him….uh, you know, stop worrying, you're not a bad guy?"
"Yeah," Amanda nodded.
"Trust me, Amanda," Methos insisted, "that's not going to work."
He turned onto his side.
"Look – no Methos. You have to do something!" Amanda insisted, "I've never seen him this upset before and you know how guilt ridden he can be."
Methos groaned, sitting up.
"Look, if he goes up against Keane thinking he deserves to lose, he'll lose," Amanda added in, "He'll die, Methos."
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Duncan stridden through the sculpted topiaries of the Luxemberg Garden, sensing the Buzz. Methos stepped out from behind a topiary, "So, nice day for it. You know, not too cold, ground's nice and dry."
"Amanda's got a big mouth," Duncan stated.
"Well, she's worried about you," Methos told the Highlander.
"Yeah, and you?" Duncan asked before he started walking away.
"Oh, me?" Methos answered, "Just scholarly interested. I just came by to watch the perfect immortal die."
"I'm not," Duncan stated, starting to speaking, facing Methos.
"Not what? Not the perfect immortal or not going to die?" Methos asked.
"Go away," Duncan told him before walking off.
"Hey, we're none of us perfect, MacLeod," Methos affirmed, following him, "Not you, not me, not even Darius. I'm sure not your friend Steven Keane."
"You should write fortune cookies," Duncan stated.
"Yeah? Well, maybe I should," Methos replied before hurrying in front of Duncan, "Just so as long as I am not writing your epitaph. What Keane hates you for happened. Nothing you do is going to change that. You accept it, MacLeod. It's part of who you are."
"Are we talking about me now?" Duncan inquired.
"Yes," Methos answered before asking, "Do you remember what happened after Culloden?"
"Yeah," Duncan answered, "I went after innocent men and slaughtered them."
"No, that's how Keane tells it," Methos argued, "I want to know how you remember it. Cause they weren't innocent, were they? They were English bastards who destroyed your people, and they deserved to die – all of them."
"You sure all of them did?" Duncan asked.
"Well you were. You wanted to to kill," Methos answered, "You killed them. You know, Keane is just like you. He wants to divide the world up into Good and Bad. Well, it's not that simple. We are all both – good and evil. We have rage and compassion. We have love and hate, murder and forgiveness. Why don't you try forgiving yourself for once."
"Why don't you try minding your own business for once, hmmm?" Duncan interjected, "Tell Amanda to do the same thing."
Methos stepped aside, "She can't say I didn't try."
Duncan walked past him. Methos pointed the gun at his back and shot him, with the last heard Methos say was, "You are such a pain in the ass."
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Methos arrived and spotted Keane. He was just as Amanda told him.
"I don't think we've met," Keane introduced himself, "Steven Keane."
"So I've heard," Methos replied before he drawn his sword.
"I have no fight with you," Keane said.
"No, that's true, if you leave Paris," Methos offered, "and leave Duncan MacLeod alone."
"Guy's got a lot of friends," Keane quipped.
"Good men often do," Methos declared.
"A good man?" Keane retorted, "You must not know him very well."
"You would be surprised," Methos insisted, "Keane, let him be."
"You try and stop me, I'll start with you," Keane threatened.
Methos sighed and then suddenly attacked, "Your call!"
The two immortals seemed evenly matched, both confident in their ability. Then Methos slipped, stumbling to his knees. Keane raised his sword and Methos drawn a dagger from his coat and plunges it into Keane's gut.
"You bastard," Keane cursed.
"Sticks and stones," Methos replied. Keane then toppled, dead. Methos raised his sword, preparing to take his head. Duncan walked up behind him, "You do it and I'm next."
"I am trying to save your head!" Methos exclaimed, exasperated.
"I don't need your help!" Duncan insisted, "You kill him – I swear, Methos. You face me."
Methos scoffed, then looked at Duncan's determined, yet disappointed expression, "Fine. It's your funeral."
He put away his sword before he walked away.
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Duncan was seated at a nearby park bench as Keane revived and looked around.
"What happened to your friend?" Keane then asked.
"It's Tuesday," Duncan answered, "He doesn't take heads on Tuesdays."
"Then why don't you take it?" Keane asked.
"Because I don't want it," Duncan insisted, "We don't have to be enemies."
"There's nothing else we can be," Keane replied.
"Culloden was a long time ago," Duncan stressed.
"Dunbar was a general in a hard war," Keane stated, "People died."
"Yeah, and so did he," Duncan replied, "You didn't see the women and children slaughtered on your friend's orders."
"I don't care what he did," Keane affirmed, "Only what you did."
"What and killing me is going to bring him back?" Duncan inquired.
"No, but it'll make me feel a helluva lot better," Keane replied before he made a move towards his sword. Duncan halted him with his katana, "A hundred years, a thousand…..You still have to pay for it."
"I do. I live with it every day," Duncan insisted, holding him a blade point by the throat before removing the sword from his opponent, "but I live with the fact that revenge doesn't make everything better."
"I had a friend who said the same thing to me once," Keane stated, facing Duncan, "He was a great man. Maybe you remember him. His name was Sean Burns. Sean convinced me that revenge wasn't the answer. I did what he wanted. I let it go. I let myself believe that Sean was right. That you were a good man who'd made a mistake, and you killed him. Are you going to tell me he'd done something dark and depraved to you and yours?"
Duncan remembered killing Sean while under the influence of the dark quickening, "He shouldn't have died."
"Then tell me," Keane told him, "I can't wait to hear it. Tell me why the man who killed Sean Burns isn't anything but a murdering bastard who deserves to die."
Duncan sat back down on the bench before he told his opponent, "It was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened."
"Sure. What was it this time?" Keane asked, "You were drunk? Drugged? Temporarily insane? Maybe you thought he was somebody else? Maybe you just didn't care."
"Look, it's not that simple," Duncan insisted as he stood back up, "You weren't there. You can't know."
"I don't need to know," Keane replied as he got in Duncan's face, "I don't judge your reasons, MacLeod. I judge your acts."
He grabbed up his sword.
"Walk away," Duncan told him.
Before they could begin their duel, the immortals heard a siren in the distance. An unmarked car pulled to a stop nearby. Both men hid their swords before the police could arrive.
A red haired female inspector arrived with some other policemen, "Duncan MacLeod?"
"That's me," Duncan answered.
The inspector held up her badge, "I'd like you to come with me, if you don't mind."
"Certainly," Duncan left with the inspector.
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Keane found the Intergalactic Union Agency. He had history with this agency and he left on very bad terms. He decided to find a way to cause mayhem while waiting to get revenge on Duncan MacLeod.
He looked over the medical wing and saw a couple looking over their ailing child.
"Whatever Mac did was long ago," the red headed man stated, "I, for the life of me, don't know why he wants this guy to take his head."
"You know how he can be, Richie," the brown haired woman replied, "He can blame himself for anything for the bad stuff he does, but…"
"But what?" Richie looked at his wife, who then remained silent.
"Tori?" Richie called out.
"Amanda has come up with a plan," Tori informed her husband, "From what she told me, she framed MacLeod for stealing some jewelry. From the looks of it, that's her plan to keep Mac away from Keane."
"Oh man," Richie replied, "How do you think Mac is going to handle it?"
"Not sure," Tori shook her head.
Keane looked up with the canister in his hands. He walked over to the ventilation system. Everyone in the building would fall asleep and he would take the child. That couple was friends with MacLeod and this would definitely hurt them and his enemy in a way.
"Now to make my move and take the brat," Keane stated with determination.
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Duncan tapped his fingers, looking at Amanda in disbelief.
"What?" Amanda replied.
"This is amazing, even for you," Duncan stated.
"I know," Amanda leaned forward across the table, "You know, that necklace would bring half a million, even hot, but you're worth it."
Duncan threw himself over the table towards her, "This is not funny!"
A guard stepped forward, rapped on the table and Duncan sat back down.
"You're right. It's not funny," Amanda replied, "It's deadly serious. You're safe in here. With your squeaky clean record, they're gonna give you a couple, three years, tops for that Pekowsky job. Who knows? Two or three years, anything could happen. Maybe we'll get lucky and that guy'll get whacked before you get out."
"Damn it, Amanda," Duncan griped, "why can't you and Methos just stay out of my business? Why don't you just leave me alone?"
"Okay, fine," Amanda stood up.
"No, not now!" Duncan stood up in turn, "You've got to get me out of here!"
The guard rapped on the table again.
"Look, I know you're upset," Amanda assured him, "but you're going to thank me later."
"Oh," Duncan replied unimpressed.
"I couldn't just let him kill you," Amanda insisted.
"Amanda, listen to me," Duncan insisted, "You do whatever it takes, and get me out of here."
"No. I have too much time invested in you, MacLeod," Amanda replied, "I want to keep you around."
"I can take Keane," Duncan stated quietly and intensely.
"Honey, I'm sorry, but I don't think so," Amanda told him, "There's something different this time. You know, if you had it together, then there'd be no problem. I'd say six to five on you, but in your present state…...I don't think so."
"Amanda, I need to have this fight," Duncan insisted in the same quiet and intense tone, "It's the only way to settle this."
He leaned forward, raising his voice, "Now, I'm warning you, I'm not staying in here! I'm staying in here!"
"Fine!" Amanda replied.
"No, I'm not staying in here!" Duncan yelled as the guard pushed him back down in his chair.
"You can break out of jail, but…" Amanda stated.
"I'll strangle you!" Duncan threatened her, "Come here!"
"Either way, you're going to stay out of Keane's way," Amanda told him, "Honey, don't worry. I'll see you every day."
"I warned you," Duncan stated as Amanda left the room before he told the guard, "I want to see the inspector."
Moments later, the inspector arrived and Duncan told her the basics of the situation.
"You're trying to tell me that a single woman was responsible for the Pekowsky job, and the break in at the Musee D'Orsay, and that little business at the Louvre….." the inspector inquired.
"Yeah, and one or two other things from Cartier," Duncan answered.
"This friend of yours is very resourceful, Mr. MacLeod," the inspector stated.
"Tell me about it," Duncan replied before inquiring, "Some of these cases have been open five or six years. Imagine the reaction when you solve them all in one day. Careers have been made on less. Now, are you interested?"
"You'll give me a description on this woman?" the inspector asked.
"Yep," Duncan answered, "and the location of the rest of the jewels."
"In exchange for what?"
"In exchange, you never saw or heard of Duncan MacLeod."
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"Jenny!" Tori cried out as she saw the medical bed empty, "Jenny! My baby!"
"What….what happened?" Richie asked as he came to as well.
"Richie, Jenny has been taken!" Tori cried out in desperation.
"This is not good," Richie replied, "Who could have done this?"
"Steven Keane."
Janet appeared at the doorway of the room, "A disgraced ex member who snuck into our headquarters and put the whole area to sleep, the medical wing that is. Cameras shown that he had taken Jenny after putting the entire wing to sleep."
"Where is that son of a bitch?!" Richie demanded.
"We are tracking down his location," Janet answered calmly. She heard a beeping on her tablet, "That didn't take too long."
"You found Keane?" Tori asked.
"He's at Luxemberg Gardens," Janet answered, "I'll have a group of agents coming with you two. You'll need the back up."
"We need to get our daughter back," Richie nodded.
"And hurry!" Tori stressed.
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Tori and Richie looked on as they sensed the Buzz.
"We have company," Richie declared.
"Alpha Team, stand by," Tori instructed the back up agents.
"So, you must be friends of Duncan MacLeod too?" Keane greeted the couple, holding Jenny in his arms.
"Mommy!" Jenny cried out, more in pain than in fear, "Daddy!"
The painful sound in their child caused Richie and Tori to become tensed.
"Are you going to tell me that MacLeod is a good man?" Keane asked them, "Are you going to tell me that he just made a mistake?"
"Duncan MacLeod is a good man!" Richie insisted, "You need to leave Jenny out of…...whatever issue you have with MacLeod!"
"Gladly," Keane dropped the child to the ground.
"Get him," Tori told the other agents, "Now!"
Keane ran off and the IUA agents chased after him, leaving Richie and Tori with Jenny.
"Mommy, Daddy, it'll be okay," Jenny weakly told her parents, "I love you both."
"We love you too, kiddo," Richie replied, trying to keep himself together. Tori couldn't help it, but the tears were streaming down her face relentlessly.
"I know you will take on that mean man," Jenny then said, "Evil never wins. MacLeod will win in the end."
Slowly, Jenny closed her head and her head slumped to the side.
"Jenny, sweetie," Tori cried out in desperation, "Please, wake up for momma. Please, sweetie."
Tori broke down in tears and Richie started crying as well as they knew their daughter was dead.
"No!" Tori cried out, "My baby! Jenny!"
Methos and Amanda looked on in shock as they saw Richie and Tori holding Jenny's lifeless body.
"Oh no," Amanda muttered, "Not Jenny."
Tori looked over at her friends, as did Richie.
"Our daughter is dead," Tori cried, "and there's nothing we can do."
"We were supposed to ensure her safety," Richie chimed in, "We were supposed to have made her last days comfortable."
"I have tried," Tori stressed, looking at her husband, "and so have you. Jenny was a sweet little girl. She was loving, she was smart."
"She was so much like you," Richie looked at his wife before looking back at his daughter, "She was a bright little girl. I just wish she lived longer than she had. I wish we could have raised her like…."
"Now because of Keane," Tori continued, "We'll never get to see her smiling face again, or hear her voice."
"That bastard's gotta pay," Richie stated through his tears.
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Amanda felt tears tears running down her face. Keane had caused this child to die, even if it wasn't intentional. Her heart bled for both Richie and Tori for enduring such a loss that no parent should ever have to endure.
Methos looked down, having mixed feelings of anguish and anger. She knew as well as he did that this was a line that Keane crossed and there was no going back from this.
"Anything we can do?" Amanda asked as she wiped the tears from her face.
"There's not much you can do now," Richie answered before he leaned forward and kissed Jenny on the forehead, "We'll find a place to bury Jenny. A most beautiful place because that's what she was, beautiful. We'll even bury her with that cat plush toy she likes."
"Tori?!" Methos called out.
Amanda didn't even pay attention to her student as she had now taken off. Was she going to tell Duncan? Was she going after Keane herself? Duncan setting her up to get himself out of jail had now been the least of her worries.
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"I'm so tired of the killing…..and so tired of deciding who to kill," Duncan spoke as he sat in front of the chapel. He paused for a little bit before continuing, "He's a good man, Darius. All he's done is judge me like I've judged others. I'm so tired of the killing."
"Then why delay what needs to be done?" Tori asked as she arrived at the chapel, sword in hand.
"Tori, what are you doing here?" Duncan asked as he turned to face her.
"Jenny is dead because of Keane!" Tori walked over to the Highlander and then she stabbed him in the heart, "Sorry, Mac, but if he is this Dunbar's friend and yet turns a blind eye to all he has done, he's not a good man."
Duncan dropped to the ground, dead before Tori cuffed him in the corner of the chapel before she walked to the middle of the chapel.
"I'm sorry, Darius," Tori spoke this time, "I hope you can forgive me for this. He's killed my daughter and he has to pay. There's no other way. While I'm here, I pray for my daughter's soul and for myself and Richie as we go through this terrible tragedy."
She turned around and left the chapel.
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Amanda saw Keane approaching her and they both walked towards each other.
"You want another shot?" Keane asked her, "I warn you, I'll finish it if you make me."
"I didn't come to fight," Amanda insisted, "I'd like to talk with you."
"If you've come to talk about MacLeod, you're wasting your breath," Keane replied.
"Just humor me, all right?" Amanda insisted.
Keane motioned her to the night club and they went inside and they were seated at the bar.
"Look, Steven, I don't know you, but um, I do know MacLeod," Amanda told him, "He's the kind of guy who doesn't make promises he can't keep, and he carries a grudge a long time. You know, one of those people who can talk about honor and justice with a straight face."
"A man who hunts and kills innocent men," Keane insisted.
"Maybe," Amanda interjected, "Because that's the kind of mistake you make when you think it matters who lives and who dies."
She took a deep breath before adding, "I don't understand why you had to kill that innocent child."
"What innocent child?" Keane retorted.
"Jenny," Amanda elaborated, "Richie and Tori's daughter. She was dying and you accelerated her death to happen faster than it was supposed to have happen."
"I only intended to rattle MacLeod," Keane insisted, "I never intended the child to die."
"Well, you might want to tell the parents that," Amanda pointed behind him as they both sensed the buzz.
They both turned around and saw Tori and Richie.
"The parents of the deceased," Keane smirked.
"You bastard!" Richie shouted as he lunged for the immortal and punched him in the face, "You killed my daughter you murdering son of a bitch!"
Tori grabbed her husband and held him back before he can do anything else.
"I think I will take things from here," Tori eyed Keane, "whether Duncan MacLeod approves or not."
"You are going to duel with me over your child?" Keane stood up from his seat.
"It's more than just my daughter," Tori said as she drawn out her sword, "It is the last straw in all that you have done! To us, to MacLeod, to God knows who else you have harmed and killed."
"Very well," Keane replied before asking, "Are you ready?"
"As I will ever be," Tori answered.
"Outside," Keane told his opponent, "Five minutes."
With that, he left the club.
"Are you sure about this, Tori?" Amanda asked.
"I was about to ask that," Richie chimed in.
"As I will ever be," Tori answered with determination in her voice, "He killed my daughter, and even though it won't bring her back, justice will be done for everything he had done, especially to Jenny, to us and MacLeod."
Richie walked to his wife and kissed her, "Good luck, Tor."
"Thanks, babe," Tori replied.
"Good luck, Tori," Amanda called out.
"Thanks, Amanda," Tori replied.
"I love you, Tori," Richie told his wife.
"I love you too, Richie," Tori replied before they kissed again.
Amanda looked on as they kissed. She sighed and Tori parted the kiss before she left the club and went to face Keane in the duel.
"How do you think Mac is going to take this?" Richie asked.
"He stopped Methos from killing Keane," Amanda answered, "He might stop Tori."
"We might need to stop him from doing so," Richie replied.
"Good idea," Amanda nodded in agreement before they left the club as well.
-Defenders-Chronicles-Highlander-
Tori found herself face to face with Keane at the rooftop of the building, after the agents tracked him down at the bar where she found him with Amanda.
"Back for more, huh?" Keane asked.
"You killed my daughter, you monster!" Tori exclaimed, "Jenny was everything to me and to Richie and you took her from us!"
"I never intended for that to happen," Keane replied, "I only intended to shake things up a bit."
"Oh please," Tori retorted, "That's a load of crap."
"So, you want to fight me, or what?" Keane asked.
"Why else am I here?" Tori retorted before she began the duel with her opponent. During the duel, she was constantly slicing Keane with her sword, to the point to where he was crying out in pain, which was part of her torture before she took out her opponent.
"Stop," Keane cried out in pain, "Please, stop."
"Did you stop when you took Jenny?" Tori retorted, "Did you stop when she begged you to let her go?"
She scoffed before looking on in satisfaction of her handiwork. Keane was bloodied, beaten and on his knees. Tori placed her sword to Keane's neck as he tilted his head back, accepting his defeat.
"I'm unaware of your grudge, but when you bring me and my family in the mix, you surely have to pay for what you have done," Tori told her defeated opponent, "You are no better than Dunbar, you're not what you claim to be. Now, you're time is up!"
"Do it and I'm next!" Duncan declared as he, Richie, Amanda and Methos all arrived at the scene.
"I told Methos this and I'll tell you now," Duncan eyed Tori, "You kill him, Tori – I swear, you face me."
Tori nodded harshly before she turned and beheaded Keane and then took his quickening.
Duncan's eyes widened while Richie looked down sadly and Amanda and Methos both shook their heads.
After the quickening ended, Tori eyed Duncan and raised her sword, "Well? I accept your challenge. Come on."
Duncan didn't move.
"I knew you were bluffing," Tori replied in disbelief before she left the area with Richie.
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Author's Note:
Thanks to Roland Cain and Harry2 for the suggestions for this intense chapter, with the former with the dialogue used in some of the scenes. There is one chapter left before the big finale. Man, I can't believe I nearly wrapped this story up after spending nearly a year for this project.
Author's Commentary:
"There's not much you can do now," Richie answered before he leaned forward and kissed Jenny on the forehead, "We'll find a place to bury Jenny. A most beautiful place because that's what she was, beautiful. We'll even bury her with that cat plush toy she likes."
"Tori?!" Methos called out.
Amanda didn't even pay attention to her student as she had now taken off. Was she going to tell Duncan? Was she going after Keane herself? Duncan setting her up to get himself out of jail had now been the least of her worries.
I could picture Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever" in the background of Jenny's death as Richie and Tori are mourning the death of their daughter. I tried showing the emotions of Amanda, Methos and especially Tori and Richie in the scene as well. In the words of Doctor Strange, "We're in the endgame now."
"How do you think Mac is going to take this?" Richie asked.
"He stopped Methos from killing Keane," Amanda answered, "He might stop Tori."
"We might need to stop him from doing so," Richie replied.
"Good idea," Amanda nodded in agreement before they left the club as well.
I didn't originally plan to write this scene in this chapter, but I felt it would be good for Richie to give Keane a little confrontation over his daughter's death before Tori avenges Jenny by taking out Keane, plus there's some interactions with Amanda, Richie and Tori.
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Chapters
Tori Gordon, a teenage operative for the Intergalactic Union Agency, transfers to a branch in Washington State, where she becomes involved in a battle between supernatural forces.
While reflecting on personal matters, Tori witnesses a stunning occurrence.
Richie introduces Tori to his friends, Duncan and Tessa, who detail the secret affairs of immortals.
As Tori begins learning more about her true nature, a teacher offers assistance.
Tori informs the Defenders that she plans to help Duncan and his companions.
Tori and Richie continue bonding as the IUA works with Duncan.
Tori is given a new task by her mother Janet.
Duncan and the group encounter Tori's teacher, Amanda. Tori learns that Duncan and Amanda have history.
9: Two Families, One Adventure
The Defenders arrive in Paris, where they unite with Tori's team.
Tori tends to an ailing Richie.
The group gains allies while investigating a new matter.
The search for Horton begins.
An old friend of Tori's reveals a darker side. Janet becomes involved in the current operation.
Duncan is told to be wary of a dark prophesy.
The team is menaced by Annie Devlin, an old associate of Duncan's.
Duncan begins refining Tori's skills.
Richie and Tori continue bonding.
A new woman comes into Richie's life.
Janet takes steps to make Richie an IUA operative.
Tori and her allies confront a number of enemies in the city.
The teams head out for a day of fun.
Rick's capture leads to a compromising situation as LJ and the others attempt a rescue.
Lucy, a dangerous immortal, targets Richie. Tori intervenes.
The IUA investigates when one of the Phantom's acquaintances is victimized by an immortal.
Richie and Tori return to Paris to assist with the mission, which is complicated by police involvement.
Duncan meets a woman who bears a strong resemblance to Tessa.
27: Can't Help Falling In Love
Kern, a vindictive old associate, returns to challenge Duncan.
Duncan attempts to work with the unstable David Keogh.
Charlie prepares to depart.
The group meet a girl named Michelle, who has just discovered her immortal nature.
Tori and Richie attempt to care for a younger boy named Kenny.
Everyone prepares for a holiday.
A mysterious statue creates chaos.
Joe and the team find others in need of their help.
Jedda and Tori have an intimate conversation.
Kalas haunts Richie and the others.
Duncan prepares for battle with Kalas and finds a surprise.
Kalas searches for Methos.
Tori worries as Richie begins taking chances.
Anne arrives.
41: The Exorcism of Richie Ryan
Richie requires assistance in getting back to normal.
The Defenders step in to assist with Kalas, and to help prevent the truth about Duncan's kind from leaking.
Duncan prepares to confront Kalas.
Duncan embarks on a private journey to Scotland. Jedda and Tori spar before an audience.
45: Walking On Shattered Glass
Duncan tries to intervene as Charlie clashes with Cord.
The current situation reminds Tori of a well-known scenario.
Amanda and Richie follow Duncan on a journey in secret, and end up defending themselves from a horde of ice robots.
The friends see Kenny again. Duncan suspects that a certain immortal is pursuing the child.
Seacouver is targeted by an ambitious supernatural woman named Sierra.
Duncan, Tori, and Richie investigate a matter from Duncan's past alongside the police.
The group is challenged by a charismatic new antagonist, Kamir.
The spellcaster Kristin Gilles arrives and pursues Richie. Mandrake offers assistance in thwarting her.
Duncan and his friends attempt to aid a pianist.
Anne and Jack participate in the latest endeavor.
Duncan falls under a dark influence temporarily.
Methos and the others reflect.
The exploits of Flash and his famed allies from Mongo are chronicled. Meanwhile, Zorelda reemerges.
The team members engage in sparring and storytelling during downtime.
The groups attempt to rescue Joe, who has been lured into a trap.
As tensions rise and truths are revealed, the team bands together in their effort to help Joe.
Richie makes a monumental decision.
As Tori and Richie prepare for the big day, opposing forces on Mongo makes plans of their own.
Katarina and Castra attempt to unite with the Defenders before Zorelda makes her move.
Zorelda arrives on Earth.
65: Setting Up The Rescue Mission
The groups outline their rescue effort.
Zorelda begins enacting her plan for Richie.
67: Mongo Showdown — Part One
Methos and Duncan engage in action on Mongo.
68: Mongo Showdown — Part Two
As the battle continues, Tori confronts Zorelda.
The group deals with the repercussions of their adventure and return to Earth.
Duncan's ally, Cassandra, relays a vision.
Tori and Richie encounter a cult. Duncan pursues Clay.
The Ryans foster a mysterious child who bears a resemblance to Tori.
Amanda and Maurice return as a new enigma arises.
Amanda engages in more questionable activity.
The group tries helping a woman who might be stalked by an old acquaintance of Duncan's.
76: All That Glitters Is Not Golden
Richie seeks to assist a childhood friend who's dealing with legal issues.
The Ryans encounter an apparent impostor, who also approaches Hadea.
An adversary known as Kronos targets Tori, seeking to exploit her intellect.
Richie and Duncan move to counter Kronos.
80: The Ransom of Richard Redstone
The Ryans depart for an undercover mission overseas.
The group make new acquaintances while pursuing a lead tied to a mysterious dancing event.
The enigmatic Keane arrives, wreaking havoc on several people's lives.
Duncan deals with a mischievous adversary named Byron. Jedda and Rick prepare for parenthood. Both Katarina and Jedda sense danger ahead.
Ming and Octon turn to a new ally.
Duncan is haunted.
The shape-shifter initiates a confrontation.
Ming shifts his focus to an isolated girl.
The Defenders unite with Tori's friends in an effort to stop Ahriman.
A climactic battle occurs as the Defenders clash with Ming, while Tori and Richie attempt to aid their friends.
90: Aftermath: The World Changes Forever
Everyone is affected by the recent events, which will have lasting repercussions.
Richie copes. Duncan travels overseas.
Joe, Amanda, and Duncan continue to hunt the enemy.
April locates Richie and provides an update on the current situation.
Richie is confronted by the opponent again.
Joe leads the investigation as everyone bands together.
The final clash begins.
Duncan makes a crucial discovery.
The key element to the plan is obtained.
The team proceeds with their endeavor.
100: The Last Stand — Part One
The group discovers that only one person can assist Duncan.
101: The Last Stand — Part Two
The battle reaches a conclusion.
Series finale.
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